Week of 3/11 Games Thread

[Fighter of the Nightman]

I suspect it may be in Los Angeles. Or maybe Las Vegas. But that just a (reasonably educated) guess.

If we MUST stray from the heart of Big Ten Country, I really think these are the only truly viable options on paper:

1. Indianapolis - Obvious choice. Has hosted it extremely well, centrally located for many schools and the area around the stadium is truly a great setup. Downtown Indianapolis has got to be one of the more underrated downtowns of a mid-to-large sized city that I have ever been to.
---> Primary beneficiaries are Indiana and Purdue. Secondary beneficiaries are mainly Illinois, MSU and OSU.
2. Chicago - Also an obvious choice. While the area around the UC is much worse than Indy, Chicago overall provides fans in town for a longer weekend with a bit more to do. Additionally, there are SO many Big Ten alumni in the area that attendance has consistently been better than anywhere else.
---> Primary beneficiary is Illinois. Secondary beneficiaries are mainly Northwestern, Indiana, MSU, Purdue, Wisconsin and Iowa.
3. New York - MSG will always have a certain appeal, and New York is simply one of a kind. Also a lot of Big Ten alumni there and provides even more to do for a long weekend than Chicago.
---> Primary beneficiary is Rutgers. Secondary beneficiaries are Maryland, Indiana, PSU and Wisconsin (mostly due to alumni being from around there).
4. Los Angeles - Throwing a bone to the West Coast schools (especially UCLA and USC) and a warm weather trip for conference fans who are stuck in the cold.
---> Primary beneficiaries are UCLA and USC. Secondary beneficiaries are Washington and Oregon.
5. Las Vegas - Sounds "random," but it will be an absolute event each year it's there. You know why Illini fans absolutely took over Vegas last year? Because it's a frickin' easy and fun place to visit for 2-3 nights, haha. Every major fan base would bring a large contingent.
---> I would say primary beneficiary is UCLA, but ... we literally played a home game vs. them in Las Vegas, lol. It will pretty much just benefit whatever teams are good, as fans will travel from all over. I suspect Illinois will be among the top 3-4 fan bases year in and year out.

Anywhere else is just dumb. The one year we had it in DC was a total flop, and attendance seems to rely more on Maryland there than Chicago does on Illinois or Indy does on Indiana/Purdue. Minneapolis is nothing more than a favor to that city, as it just makes no sense for anyone but the Gophers ... same logic applies to Detroit, Cleveland, Omaha, Philadelphia, etc.

 

[drsmitty74]

Kansas playing for some extra time off.

Did anyone else see the Kansas Pregame and watch Tom Crean pretty much say that Hunter Dickinson is the reason Kansas will not go anywhere in the tournament? It was gold. literally said the guy is non existent on defense and is absent from the defensive side of the ball.

 

[GatorMcKlusky]

If we MUST stray from the heart of Big Ten Country, I really think these are the only truly viable options on paper:

1. Indianapolis - Obvious choice. Has hosted it extremely well, centrally located for many schools and the area around the stadium is truly a great setup. Downtown Indianapolis has got to be one of the more underrated downtowns of a mid-to-large sized city that I have ever been to.
---> Primary beneficiaries are Indiana and Purdue. Secondary beneficiaries are mainly Illinois, MSU and OSU.
2. Chicago - Also an obvious choice. While the area around the UC is much worse than Indy, Chicago overall provides fans in town for a longer weekend with a bit more to do. Additionally, there are SO many Big Ten alumni in the area that attendance has consistently been better than anywhere else.
---> Primary beneficiary is Illinois. Secondary beneficiaries are mainly Northwestern, Indiana, MSU, Purdue, Wisconsin and Iowa.
3. New York - MSG will always have a certain appeal, and New York is simply one of a kind. Also a lot of Big Ten alumni there and provides even more to do for a long weekend than Chicago.
---> Primary beneficiary is Rutgers. Secondary beneficiaries are Maryland, Indiana, PSU and Wisconsin (mostly due to alumni being from around there).
4. Los Angeles - Throwing a bone to the West Coast schools (especially UCLA and USC) and a warm weather trip for conference fans who are stuck in the cold.
---> Primary beneficiaries are UCLA and USC. Secondary beneficiaries are Washington and Oregon.
5. Las Vegas - Sounds "random," but it will be an absolute event each year it's there. You know why Illini fans absolutely took over Vegas last year? Because it's a frickin' easy and fun place to visit for 2-3 nights, haha. Every major fan base would bring a large contingent.
---> I would say primary beneficiary is UCLA, but ... we literally played a home game vs. them in Las Vegas, lol. It will pretty much just benefit whatever teams are good, as fans will travel from all over. I suspect Illinois will be among the top 3-4 fan bases year in and year out.

Anywhere else is just dumb. The one year we had it in DC was a total flop, and attendance seems to rely more on Maryland there than Chicago does on Illinois or Indy does on Indiana/Purdue. Minneapolis is nothing more than a favor to that city, as it just makes no sense for anyone but the Gophers ... same logic applies to Detroit, Cleveland, Omaha, Philadelphia, etc.

Was the choice of Minny something Kevin Warren cooked up before he left?

 

[aaeismacgychel]

Took a break, went downstairs to the bar on the ground floor of our building to join my MD buddy for the Wisc game mid-first half. Left when Wisc extended lead to 80-40. What an absolute curb stomping.

Even if one would say Maryland played hard in the 1st half, which is very generous, the way they came out in the 2nd half... That's what quitting looks like. Looked like they had lost all love of the game and couldn't wait to get on the plane and go home

 

[Iloveorangekoolaid]

If we MUST stray from the heart of Big Ten Country, I really think these are the only truly viable options on paper:

1. Indianapolis - Obvious choice. Has hosted it extremely well, centrally located for many schools and the area around the stadium is truly a great setup. Downtown Indianapolis has got to be one of the more underrated downtowns of a mid-to-large sized city that I have ever been to.
---> Primary beneficiaries are Indiana and Purdue. Secondary beneficiaries are mainly Illinois, MSU and OSU.
2. Chicago - Also an obvious choice. While the area around the UC is much worse than Indy, Chicago overall provides fans in town for a longer weekend with a bit more to do. Additionally, there are SO many Big Ten alumni in the area that attendance has consistently been better than anywhere else.
---> Primary beneficiary is Illinois. Secondary beneficiaries are mainly Northwestern, Indiana, MSU, Purdue, Wisconsin and Iowa.
3. New York - MSG will always have a certain appeal, and New York is simply one of a kind. Also a lot of Big Ten alumni there and provides even more to do for a long weekend than Chicago.
---> Primary beneficiary is Rutgers. Secondary beneficiaries are Maryland, Indiana, PSU and Wisconsin (mostly due to alumni being from around there).
4. Los Angeles - Throwing a bone to the West Coast schools (especially UCLA and USC) and a warm weather trip for conference fans who are stuck in the cold.
---> Primary beneficiaries are UCLA and USC. Secondary beneficiaries are Washington and Oregon.
5. Las Vegas - Sounds "random," but it will be an absolute event each year it's there. You know why Illini fans absolutely took over Vegas last year? Because it's a frickin' easy and fun place to visit for 2-3 nights, haha. Every major fan base would bring a large contingent.
---> I would say primary beneficiary is UCLA, but ... we literally played a home game vs. them in Las Vegas, lol. It will pretty much just benefit whatever teams are good, as fans will travel from all over. I suspect Illinois will be among the top 3-4 fan bases year in and year out.

Anywhere else is just dumb. The one year we had it in DC was a total flop, and attendance seems to rely more on Maryland there than Chicago does on Illinois or Indy does on Indiana/Purdue. Minneapolis is nothing more than a favor to that city, as it just makes no sense for anyone but the Gophers ... same logic applies to Detroit, Cleveland, Omaha, Philadelphia, etc.

I would swap NYC with Milwaukee and put Vegas over LA just by being a better host city.

 

[Fighter of the Nightman]

I would swap NYC with Milwaukee and put Vegas over LA just by being a better host city.

As a personal fan of Milwaukee, it is still just very reliant on Wisconsin fans for good attendance. You might get some Illini and other fans driving up from Chicago, but really Chicago and (to a slightly lesser extent) Indianapolis seem like the only locations where a wide variety of schools can carry attendance until Sunday. I agree Vegas over LA 110%, I just figured it would be less realistic. If we were just going my dream scenario, it would go Chicago-Indy-Vegas.

 

[oskeewowwowboomtime]

Did anyone else see the Kansas Pregame and watch Tom Crean pretty much say that Hunter Dickinson is the reason Kansas will not go anywhere in the tournament? It was gold. literally said the guy is non existent on defense and is absent from the defensive side of the ball.

 

[altgeld88]

Even if one would say Maryland played hard in the 1st half, which is very generous, the way they came out in the 2nd half... That's what quitting looks like. Looked like they had lost all love of the game and couldn't wait to get on the plane and go home

Can't recall the last time (if ever) I saw a team down by 20 at the half, in a conference tourney no less, come out for the second half and give up 18 consecutive points before scoring. It was 65-26 five mins into the 2H before MD scored. Mind-blowing. The closest I can remember us getting keel-hauled like this was the Groce (extremely Groce) NIT game at Alabama in 2015 down 30 at one point.

BTW... the delusional MD fans have been blaming their lackluster season on the failure to lure Rick Pitino two yrs ago. lmao

 

[Iloveorangekoolaid]

As a personal fan of Milwaukee, it is still just very reliant on Wisconsin fans for good attendance. You might get some Illini and other fans driving up from Chicago, but really Chicago and (to a slightly lesser extent) Indianapolis seem like the only locations where a wide variety of schools can carry attendance until Sunday. I agree Vegas over LA 110%, I just figured it would be less realistic. If we were just going my dream scenario, it would go Chicago-Indy-Vegas.

I could see it with the PAC-12 leaving an open stadium in Vegas(where we took over last year) over basically the same dates that we run our tourney.

 

[aaeismacgychel]

If we MUST stray from the heart of Big Ten Country, I really think these are the only truly viable options on paper:

1. Indianapolis - Obvious choice. Has hosted it extremely well, centrally located for many schools and the area around the stadium is truly a great setup. Downtown Indianapolis has got to be one of the more underrated downtowns of a mid-to-large sized city that I have ever been to.
---> Primary beneficiaries are Indiana and Purdue. Secondary beneficiaries are mainly Illinois, MSU and OSU.
2. Chicago - Also an obvious choice. While the area around the UC is much worse than Indy, Chicago overall provides fans in town for a longer weekend with a bit more to do. Additionally, there are SO many Big Ten alumni in the area that attendance has consistently been better than anywhere else.
---> Primary beneficiary is Illinois. Secondary beneficiaries are mainly Northwestern, Indiana, MSU, Purdue, Wisconsin and Iowa.
3. New York - MSG will always have a certain appeal, and New York is simply one of a kind. Also a lot of Big Ten alumni there and provides even more to do for a long weekend than Chicago.
---> Primary beneficiary is Rutgers. Secondary beneficiaries are Maryland, Indiana, PSU and Wisconsin (mostly due to alumni being from around there).
4. Los Angeles - Throwing a bone to the West Coast schools (especially UCLA and USC) and a warm weather trip for conference fans who are stuck in the cold.
---> Primary beneficiaries are UCLA and USC. Secondary beneficiaries are Washington and Oregon.
5. Las Vegas - Sounds "random," but it will be an absolute event each year it's there. You know why Illini fans absolutely took over Vegas last year? Because it's a frickin' easy and fun place to visit for 2-3 nights, haha. Every major fan base would bring a large contingent.
---> I would say primary beneficiary is UCLA, but ... we literally played a home game vs. them in Las Vegas, lol. It will pretty much just benefit whatever teams are good, as fans will travel from all over. I suspect Illinois will be among the top 3-4 fan bases year in and year out.

Anywhere else is just dumb. The one year we had it in DC was a total flop, and attendance seems to rely more on Maryland there than Chicago does on Illinois or Indy does on Indiana/Purdue. Minneapolis is nothing more than a favor to that city, as it just makes no sense for anyone but the Gophers ... same logic applies to Detroit, Cleveland, Omaha, Philadelphia, etc.

I don't think we can get MSG as that's where the BE tourney is historically held. And Vegas might be able to support 2 events but isn't that where the MWC is? San Fran, Seattle, or Portland would probably be more likely if they wanted to go out west. Of those three, I've been to Portland and it was nice though getting around to places there seemed to be a pain compared to other major cities. So maybe Seattle? I still prefer they keep this thing in the Midwest

 

[Iloveorangekoolaid]

I don't think we can get MSG as that's where the BE tourney is historically held. And Vegas might be able to support 2 events but isn't that where the MWC is? San Fran, Seattle, or Portland would probably be more likely if they wanted to go out west. Of those three, I've been to Portland and it was nice though getting around to places there seemed to be a pain compared to other major cities. So maybe Seattle? I still prefer they keep this thing in the Midwest

MWC plays at Thomas and Mack-UNLV home. WCC plays at Orleans Arena and different dates. PAC-12 leaves T Mobile Arena open and there’s always the Raiders stadium

 

[aaeismacgychel]

MWC plays at Thomas and Mack-UNLV home. WCC plays at Orleans Arena and different dates. PAC-12 leaves T Mobile Arena open and there’s always the Raiders stadium

I completely forgot the Pac plays there as well. Wonder if they'll retain that site next season?

 

[battle]

The close game of the2nd set of games - Fresno st and ut st in ot. I like the scorer tables messages: #6BidMW and 6 in top 40net

 

[Fighter of the Nightman]

Sounded like Minnesota had the most fans today but not by as much as you’d expect, and it sounded like MSU actually had a bigger (or at least louder) crowd than Wisconsin. Curious to see how many Iowa fans will be there tonight and how many Illini fans are there tomorrow!

 

[ptgrd23]

I would swap NYC with Milwaukee and put Vegas over LA just by being a better host city.

The newcomers from east coast/west coast joined the B10. They can come to the midwest for basketball tournament.

On TV the DC and NYC BTT did not look well attended but the Wiki shows slightly lower but not horrific attendance. DC was the worst. Of course the skeptic in me questions if these NY and DC numbers are attendees or just tickets sold. I know Illinois and Indiana fans who go to BTT every year when it is in Indy or Chicago but did not go to NYC or DC. Just hard to believe Rutgers/Penn State is going to drive attendance in NYC or MD/Penn State would drive attendance in DC. Not to mention airfare and NYC/DC +++higher hotel prices.

Attendance at conference championship games was great...except in D.C.

Michigan-Wisconsin was a great game. But it didn’t draw that big a crowd in the nation’s capital.

www.onthebanks.com

Schneider: Big Ten's east coast flirtation is shameful

The Big Ten's current Dash for Cash is a shameful level of greed that even Gordon Gekko would consider excessive.

www.jsonline.com

Doyel: Big Ten tournament in New York City is stupid and everyone knows it

Big Ten basketball tournament in Madison Square Garden is a greedy and stupid idea, but it begins this week in New York City, where it will be ignored

www.indystar.com

Is the Big Ten Tournament better in Indianapolis or Chicago?

The Big Ten Tournament is currently going on and the east coast trip is coming to an end. Which city is better to host it Indianapolis or Chicago?

writingillini.com

https://www.mlive.com/wolverines/2018/03/attendance_at_big_ten_tourname.html

 

[biglug58]

Wisky blew their wad today.

Name checks out

 

[alaskaillini]

Did anyone else see the Kansas Pregame and watch Tom Crean pretty much say that Hunter Dickinson is the reason Kansas will not go anywhere in the tournament? It was gold. literally said the guy is non existent on defense and is absent from the defensive side of the ball.

Didn't think much of Crean as a coach, but have to say I have kind of enjoyed him as an analyst.

 

[WyattEarp]

Did anyone else see the Kansas Pregame and watch Tom Crean pretty much say that Hunter Dickinson is the reason Kansas will not go anywhere in the tournament? It was gold. literally said the guy is non existent on defense and is absent from the defensive side of the ball.

 

[Zorak]

If we MUST stray from the heart of Big Ten Country, I really think these are the only truly viable options on paper:

1. Indianapolis - Obvious choice. Has hosted it extremely well, centrally located for many schools and the area around the stadium is truly a great setup. Downtown Indianapolis has got to be one of the more underrated downtowns of a mid-to-large sized city that I have ever been to.
---> Primary beneficiaries are Indiana and Purdue. Secondary beneficiaries are mainly Illinois, MSU and OSU.
2. Chicago - Also an obvious choice. While the area around the UC is much worse than Indy, Chicago overall provides fans in town for a longer weekend with a bit more to do. Additionally, there are SO many Big Ten alumni in the area that attendance has consistently been better than anywhere else.
---> Primary beneficiary is Illinois. Secondary beneficiaries are mainly Northwestern, Indiana, MSU, Purdue, Wisconsin and Iowa.
3. New York - MSG will always have a certain appeal, and New York is simply one of a kind. Also a lot of Big Ten alumni there and provides even more to do for a long weekend than Chicago.
---> Primary beneficiary is Rutgers. Secondary beneficiaries are Maryland, Indiana, PSU and Wisconsin (mostly due to alumni being from around there).
4. Los Angeles - Throwing a bone to the West Coast schools (especially UCLA and USC) and a warm weather trip for conference fans who are stuck in the cold.
---> Primary beneficiaries are UCLA and USC. Secondary beneficiaries are Washington and Oregon.
5. Las Vegas - Sounds "random," but it will be an absolute event each year it's there. You know why Illini fans absolutely took over Vegas last year? Because it's a frickin' easy and fun place to visit for 2-3 nights, haha. Every major fan base would bring a large contingent.
---> I would say primary beneficiary is UCLA, but ... we literally played a home game vs. them in Las Vegas, lol. It will pretty much just benefit whatever teams are good, as fans will travel from all over. I suspect Illinois will be among the top 3-4 fan bases year in and year out.

Anywhere else is just dumb. The one year we had it in DC was a total flop, and attendance seems to rely more on Maryland there than Chicago does on Illinois or Indy does on Indiana/Purdue. Minneapolis is nothing more than a favor to that city, as it just makes no sense for anyone but the Gophers ... same logic applies to Detroit, Cleveland, Omaha, Philadelphia, etc.

I would move Vegas to 3 because it's such a destination and drop New York to 5 because the tournament has to be moved up a week for MSG. I hated that

 

[nyc_illini]

Purple Kitties beat Wisco by 15 tomorrow.

I doubt it with all their injuries

 

[OrangeAndBlueBlooded]

I completely forgot the Pac plays there as well. Wonder if they'll retain that site next season?

Even if they do, as of right now it would only be a one game tourney.

 

[Piotyr]

Today's results involving teams that aren't NCAA locks but fashion themselves worthy of a bid:

- St. John's 91, Seton Hall 72
- Pitt 81, Wake Forest 69
- Mississippi State 70, LSU 60
- Michigan State 77, Minnesota 67
- St. Joe's 66, Richmond 61
- Wichita State 71, Memphis 65

 

[2X2L]

I really know nothing. Trying to be objective here. But even I could see Maryland just plain kwit, in my book. Tired? Maybe. But really no excuse for such a dismal performance. The Washington Generals, my second favorite basketball team, would have put up a far better fight against Wisconsin.

 

[oskeewowwowboomtime]

Hard to believe that Maryland only lost by 4 points to the Badgers IN MADISON less than a month ago on February 20, 2024 by a score of 74-70. Too much talent on Maryland to be down 40 points today no matter how well the Badgers were shooting. Appears that Willard's team quit on him and/or each other ending the season with a 16-17 record. Coming off a 22-13 2023 season with most of its core players returning and an unofficial AP preseason ranking at #30, it is going to be a long off-season for Willard. Terps fans have to be very restless with Willard given this season's collapse.

 

[IlliniReb]

Hard to believe that Maryland only lost by 4 points to the Badgers IN MADISON less than a month ago on February 20, 2024 by a score of 74-70. Too much talent on Maryland to be down 40 points today no matter how well the Badgers were shooting. Appears that Willard's team quit on him and/or each other ending the season with a 16-17 record. Coming off a 22-13 2023 season with most of its core players returning and an unofficial AP preseason ranking at #30, it is going to be a long off-season for Willard. Terps fans have to be very restless with Willard given this season's collapse.